Professor Prepares Lake Superior Remediation Plans
(September 21, 2009 --Thunder Bay, ON) Dr. Robert Stewart of Lakehead University's Department of Geography has received research grants totalling $170,600 from Environment Canada and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment through the Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem to review and implement Remedial Action Plans (RAPs). These RAPs will focus on three Areas of Concern along the North Shore of Lake Superior (Thunder Bay, Nipigon Bay, and Jackfish Bay).
The Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem is the federal-provincial agreement that supports the restoration and protection of the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem. The Agreement between the governments of Canada and Ontario outlines how the two governments will cooperate and coordinate their efforts to restore, protect, and conserve the Great Lakes basin ecosystem. It builds on the actions taken through previous agreements, and focuses priorities for future actions. The Agreement also contributes to meeting Canada's obligations under the Canada-United States Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.
Areas of Concern are locations where environmental quality is significantly degraded, resulting in the impairment of beneficial uses to both humans and wildlife. Under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, Thunder Bay was designated as an Area of Concern (AOC) as a result of historic contamination, shoreline development, and municipal and industrial pollution sources. Nipigon Bay was listed primarily as a result of impacts related to the upstream hydroelectric dams, the accumulation of wood fibre, bark, and other organic matter from historic log drives, and effluent inputs from municipal and industrial sources. Jackfish Bay received AOC status from ecosystem impairments resulting from effluent discharged from the Terrace Bay pulp and paper mill. Dr. Stewart's research seeks to increase collaboration among Lakehead University faculty, all levels of government, and the public in order to ensure that decisions concerning the health of Lake Superior are based on sound science and local community values.
As part of a multidisciplinary research approach, faculty from Lakehead's Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies will collaborate with Dr. Stewart. Together they will review available monitoring data on the health of these Areas of Concern. In addition, a full-time position for a RAP Coordinator has been created at Lakehead University to integrate the Remedial Action Plans along the North Shore. The new Remedial Action Plan Coordinator at Lakehead University is currently looking for community members who are interested in contributing to a public advisory committee to oversee the implementation of Remedial Action Plans for the Thunder Bay and Nipigon Bay Areas of Concern. Public advisory committees (PACs) are integral to the organization and implementation of remedial actions. PAC members would review information pertaining to the environmental health of the AOC ecosystem, and discuss remedial action plans fellow PAC members and government representatives for the Thunder Bay or Nipigon Bay AOC.
Interested parties may contact Aaron Nicholson at 807-343-8514 or aaron.nicholson@lakeheadu.ca. To learn more about the Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem, please visit the Environment Canada website at: http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/coa
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Media: Dr. Robert Stewart is available for interviews by calling him directly at 807-766-7181.
About Lakehead
Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for innovative programs and cutting-edge research. With a main campus located in Thunder Bay, Ontario and a campus in Orillia, Ontario, Lakehead has over 7,900 students and 2,250 faculty and staff, and is home to the west campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. In 2006, Research Infosource Inc. named Lakehead University Canada's Research University of the Year in the undergraduate category. For more information on Lakehead University, visit www.lakeheadu.ca